The only almost victory has McDaniel and Grier almost out of here!
Ah, the Miami Dolphins. It’s always comforting to know that when expectations soar, there’s someone ready to pull them gently back down to Earth. Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots was no exception. The scoreboard may have told one story, but the real narrative was the artful dance of near-misses, questionable decisions, and the occasional flash of brilliance… mostly from New England.
While there will be a few more performances from these clowns at least their three-penny opera is on its final run.
Phins are consistent in all the wrong things
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did what he could—he threw, he scrambled, he threw again—but also did what he does and threw interceptions at the wrong time. Pats’ defense appeared to be reading the Dolphins’ playbook before it was even drawn. Tua had some very good moments when he wasn’t on the run from pressure, backed up from penalties, or suffering from tunnel vision.
The Dolphins’ offensive line… oh, the poetry of it. Watching them try to protect Tua was like witnessing a slow-motion ballet, if that ballet involved missed blocks and getting the quarterback to run for his life. They couldn’t run block, pass protect, and even Brewer couldn’t snap the ball on time. You can bet with the best pay per head that they sure could notch the penalties though.
Mike McDaniel’s game plan? Ambitious. Admirable. Confounding. A bold combination that will probably be studied in film rooms as an example of “when good intentions meet unfortunate execution.” At least the team’s commitment to… something… never wavered. His commitment to finesse fun-ball is impressive if it wasn’t so pathetic.
Special teams contributed their own flair, adding to the suspense. Phins score a punt return TD only to allow a kick return TD on the very next snap. It doesn’t get more nauseating that that.
Soft, choke artists, masters of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory
The Dolphins delivered, right on schedule–as always, leaving spectators alternating between hope and the sweet release of despair. If nothing else they are consistent… sadly, it’s in letting fans down. The Dolphins walked away with the kind of loss that’s perfect for late-night sports hot takes and Twitter hashtags you hope never go viral. The Patriots? Grateful. Phins fans? Weary!
At least, if there is any good to be found in this, the Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel regime is about to get flushed down the toilet. And that is addition by subtraction bracketed by multiplication–whoever comes next.
Of course, it could be another Gase or Philbin. Ouch!
I don’t know what’s next for the Dolphins, but I’ll roll the dice on anything but what we have running Miami now!
